CHARLESTON, W.Va. –Several women and girls in support of Senate Bill 456 gathered around Governor Patrick Morrisey Wednesday morning as he signed the bill into law.
Otherwise known as the “Riley Gaines Act,” the bill aims to define sex-based terms such as “male” and “female,” stating that, “a ‘woman’ is an adult human of the female sex, and a ‘man’ is an adult human of the male sex.”
The bill will also aim to define and preserve women’s single-sex spaces, primarily focusing on locker rooms, bathrooms, rape crisis centers, dormitories, and prisons, according to a release from Morrisey’s office.
West Virginia senators passed the bill on March 3, before the House of Delegates passed their version of the bill just three days later.
“It’s common sense that there are two sexes. It’s common sense that boys should not be competing with girls in sports. It’s common sense that women’s spaces like bathrooms, locker rooms, domestic violence shelters, and rape crisis centers should be kept private for women only,” Morrisey said Wednesday, just before signing the bill.
Gaines, the former University of Kentucky swimmer, was on hand for the signing in Morrisey’s office. She says Morrisey’s stamp of approval is a win for West Virginia.
“His (Morrisey’s) signature defines common sex-based words like “woman” and “man.” Now when these words are used in West Virginia, they mean something,” Gaines said. “Everyone is speaking a common language that is no longer up for re-interpretation.”
Gaines became an activist for legislation like this since competing against University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, a transgender woman, during an NCAA freestyle championship race back in 2022.
She says she hopes the the soon-to-be law in West Virginia will prompt other states to pass similar legislation.
“We are here to celebrate a big win for the state of West Virginia, but broader, a win that will transcend into all of the other states in this nation,” Gaines said.
“It’s really long overdue. This is something that we have been fighting for in the state of West Virginia for many legislative sessions now, so this is foundational, it’s paramount,” Gaines said.
Gaines also said that she was honored to have her name attached to the bill.
“It’s really a full circle moment for me,” Gaines said. “To have the bill named after me is just the biggest honor in my life.”
Gaines was also present at the United States Capitol in early February when President Donald Trump signed an executive order called “No Men in Women’s Sports.”
The executive order bans transgender women athletes from participating in girl’s and women’s sports, and will also prevent them from using women’s restrooms and locker rooms. Additionally, it ensures programs and entities that receive federal funding will abide by Title IX. Title IX interprets “sex” as the gender one was assigned at birth. Trump’s executive order also authorizes penalties for schools that do not comply with Title IX and continue to allow transgender athletes to compete, such as the loss of federal funding.
Morrisey says the state will stand by Trump’s side on this issue.
“One thing that I can say is that West Virginia is going to be a strong ally to President (Donald) Trump and we’re going to support every effort of his to protect women’s sports and women’s spaces,” Morrisey said.